BERAM KAYAL has revealed a closed-door players’ meeting has charged Celtic up for the Champions League showdown against HJK Helsinki.

Neil Lennon’s troops head to the Finnish capital for Wednesday night’s second-leg clash looking to take a giant step towards the group stages by securing a place in the play-off round.

Celtic take a slender 2-1 advantage on to tomorrow’s team flight out of Glasgow Airport but Kayal has confessed there is also a renewed sense of purpose among the group after a straight-talking session among the squad.

Lennon’s young guns are desperate to make it into the main body of Europe’s premier competition for the first time since the manager brought them together two years ago.

Kayal says the players believe this is their time and they strengthened their resolve to make it happen by having a meeting among themselves to press home the importance of qualification.

He said: “We spoke before Sion and Braga and we believed but some things didn’t go well and we haven’t played in the Champions League in the past two years.

“But we’re more experienced now and had a Europa League season last year against some great teams, including Atletico Madrid who went on to win the trophy.

“So we believe we have more confidence and experience within the team and I feel we can do it. The players spoke together about the big need to win the games to be in Champions League.

“Everyone wants to feel that moment of being there with a big club like Celtic.

“In the team now we have a lot of players around 23 and 24 years of age and we train together and are together in the dressing room. We spoke together about it and believe were going to do it.”